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(N0 Model.)

J. E. FORD.

GEAPPLING TONGS. No. 356,630. Patented Jan. 25 188?,

WITNESSES; I my NT R: 7%. M. .W :3; g 1 '1'!) n. PETERS. Pbom-Ulmgwphu. WmNngKm a. c

. UNTTED STATES PATE'l @rrtcn.

JAMESE. FORD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVAXIA.

GRAPPLING-TONG$.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,630,:lated January 25, 1887.

Application filed September 6, 1886. Serial No. 212,827. (No model.)

To (.525 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES E. FOR-D, a citizen of theUnited States, residingin the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grappling-Tongs for Ice, Meat, which improvement is fullyset forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which-- V Figure l rc lrescnts a side elevation of a carrier for ice, the, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a partial vertical section and partial side elevation at a right angle to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents avcrtical section of a detached portion.

Ssimilar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of adevice for carrying ice, meat, 820., formed of grappling-hooks attached to a sliding stem, at head in which the stem is guided, a bearing for said hooks, a shoulder for the fingers, a spring, and a handle, as will he hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring to the drawings, A. represents a tubular head, within which is fitted a sliding stein, B, the latter having secured to it at one end a handle, 0, and pivoted to it at the other end the grappling hooks, jaws, or tongs D, said hooks entering slots E on opposite sides of the head A, and bearing against a transversely-extended rivet, F, or in lieu thereof a screw, which secures the filling-piece G of the head in position,the head being primarily cast with an opening to admit the hooks and stem and then receive said fillingpicoe, which closes the opening.

Pressing against the handle 0 and head A is a spring, G, which serves to return the parts to their normal position and force the hooks against the article to be carried. The upper part of the head has on its exterior ashonlder, H, vfor engagement of the fingers when the hooks are separated. In assembling the carrier, thchoohs are pivoted to the stern and the latter is inserted in the head, and the spring G and handle 0 are applied. The piece G is inserted in the head, and the rivet F driven through theheud and piece audits ends headed, thusiirnily connecting the piece with the head.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the central portion, I of the rivet is uncovered, the remaining portion being embedded in the piece G and head A, whereby the portions of the hooks adjacent to the rivet bear or rub against the uncovered part of said rivet as said hooks open and close, and in opening the hooks the stern forcibly abuts against said rivet, thus acting as a stop, and also relieving the piece G of strain, and transferring pressure and blows to the rivet instead of said piecawhich l latter is liable to be brolieinwhilc the former, made of superior metal, is well enabled to endure the harsh usage to which it is subjected. In operating the implement, the fingers grasp the head A and abut against the shoulder H, whereby they are prevented from slippingfroni the head, and the palm of the hand or thethunib rests againstthehandle C. Pressure is now exerted on the handle, and consequently on thestern Bnvhereby the hooks are opened, said hooks then being applied to the article to be carried. The fingers are let go article, and the latter may now be carried by the handle without liability of having the hooks disengage therefrom. the handle the hooks are separated and the article is released.

I am aware that it is not new to construct grappling-tongs having ahead with side openings, a sliding stem inserted in said head and having pivoted to its lower end tongs extend ing through said side openings, and provided with a spring normally tending to close said tongs; but 1 am not aware that it is old to form the head with a shoulder, as and for the purpose herein described, nor that such deof the head and the hooks close tightly on the By pressing on vices have been constructed in such manner that the tongs and the end of the stem bear upon a fastening-rivet of wroughtiron, and

and liability of breakage are greatly lessened. Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In grappling-tongs, a stem with hooks pivoted thereto, a head, and transverselyextending rivet embedded in said head, havnot upon a cast filling-piece, whereby the W681,

ingits central part uncovered, all combined forming an abutment for theiuner sides of the substantiallyas and for the purpose described. hooks and end of the stem, substantially as IO 2. Grappling-tongs consisting of the tubu= and for the purpose described.

lar head A, the sliding stem Bfthe spring G,

5 the hooks D, pivoted to the inner end of said JAMES stem, the filling-piece G at the end of the Witnesses: stem, and the transverse rivet F, the latter JOHN A. WIEDERsHEIM connecting the filling-piece with the head, and A. P. GRANT. J 

